If you have never tried curling before, the novice division is calling your name. You’ll have a chance to take part in several games and learn the basic skills and maneuvers from curling mentors. All equipment is provided. The event draws both competitive and recreational curling teams, easy to spot with their jazzy pants, capes and costumes. This year’s theme is “circus,” so brush up on your curling skills and let your imagination run wild!

The Bonspiel is a rocking good time, but it keeps a pretty low profile in Fairbanks compared to other sporting events and competitions. However, Bonspiel roots run as far back as 1905 in Fairbanks, only two years after the town’s founding. The Bonspiel trophy even displays the American and Canadian flags as they existed back then, with a 48-star American flag and a Canadian Union flag.

Come out and enjoy four action-packed days of curling. There will be live music and dancing in the evening, drink specials all weekend, meal service and more. The curling club offers heated spectator galleries on the upper and lower levels, but children are not allowed upstairs after 8 p.m.

Opening Ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 31 and the first games begin at 7 p.m.  A banquet dinner and awards ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 3.

Visit the Fairbanks Curling Club for more information and team registration costs.

Head to the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and go on a half-day tour to the Husky Homestead, run by Jeff King, four-time champion of the Iditarod. Like a lot of Alaskans, Jeff moved here in search of adventure. Dog mushing and Alaskan huskies piqued his interest, and in 1992 he went from spare time to full time, winning his first Iditarod the following season. He took the mushing world by storm and has become recognized as the “winningest musher in the world.” You might know about the Iditarod, but come see what it takes to create a professional Iditarod racing team. Meet Jeff and more than 75 friendly, energetic huskies ready to share their enthusiasm for the sport. The adventure can be booked at the tour desk at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge.

If you are going to be on the Kenai Peninsula this summer, meet dog musher Lorraine Temple. She is a strong advocate of Alaska’s official state sport. She’ll share tales of the trail, introduce you to her sled dogs and tell you what it takes to make it through the Iditarod. Get hands-on experience by harnessing the dogs and hooking them into the team. Her tour also includes a video and slideshow that features glaciers, wildlife, activities, wildflowers, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and of course, adorable puppies!

Wrangell-St Elias National Park is considered one of the most spectacular destinations in Alaska and is the largest national park. At the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, learn about mushing the best way possible, by actually riding in a sled. See how mushers use wheeled carts to keep their dogs fit for winter races and everyday transportation. Head out to the lodge’s main entrance and instead of hailing a cab, hail a ride with a local musher and his team.

If you’ll be in Fairbanks this summer soaking up the midnight sun, stop by the home and kennels the late Susan Butcher with The Riverboat Discovery Cruise. She was the second woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1986, the second four-time winner in 1990, and the first to win four out of five sequential years. She is commemorated in Alaska every year on Susan Butcher Day, March 1. Susan’s husband Dave Monson, a champion of the Yukon Quest, shares stories of life in the dog yard and on the trails. Book this expedition from the tour desk at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge.

The games provide an opportunity for the circumpolar regions of the globe to celebrate the sports of their communities, offering athletes the chance to exchange with other athletes from northern regions. The games bring nearly 2,000 athletes, coaches and cultural delegates from Alaska, Greenland, Yamal, Russia, the Sami of northern Scandinavia and the Canadian jurisdictions of Yukon, Northern Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Nunavik Quebec.

The sporting events range from the common — alpine skiing, biathlon-ski, and cross country skiing — to the lesser known: Dene tribal games, dog sledding and other cultural events. The Chipewyan or Denesuline are part of the Dene tribal group of Athapascan Indians and are the most widespread tribe in Canada. The Dene games feature skills needed for survival while living off the land, hunting and fishing.

If you are interested in previewing a little bit of the action in anticipation for 2014, the next Arctic Winter Games is being held in Whitehorse, Yukon in 2012, just a day’s drive from Fairbanks.

The Arctic Winter Games are a biennial celebration that has grown to include more than 2,000 athletes. So start planning your trip and join us for the 2014 Arctic Winter Games in Fairbanks!

Almost everyone who lives in Alaska has heard of the Ice Art Championships, but you might be surprised to learn that the ice itself has an interesting legacy of its own. When ice sculpting was first revived in Fairbanks in 1988, organizers weren’t sure the Fairbanks ice was adequate for sculpting, so commercially prepared ice was shipped up from Seattle. Ice from Seattle? That makes about as much sense as shipping sand to Hawaii. Luckily, it didn’t take long for the sculptors to see a sample of our homegrown ice and Fairbanks quickly became known for having the best ice in the world. Well duh.

Volunteers have been slaving away for months now, cutting and stockpiling enough ice for over 100 ice artists to compete in the events. The high grade, blue-hued ice, nicknamed, “The Arctic Diamond,” is now harvested right from O’Grady Pond in the Ice Park, located off Phillips Field Road next to the Comfort Inn in Fairbanks. The method of cutting and hauling the ice is almost as grueling as the competition itself and is constantly evolving through the use of various saws, knives, forklifts and sleds. So far, the 1998 ice still tops the records for the thickest ice at 54 inches. Cutting this ice required a chainsaw with a 60-inch bar!

Spectators can expect to be blown away by this year’s sculptures, as the 2011 theme, “Dream Big,” is illustrated during the three main events: the Single Block Classic, made up of both an abstract and realistic category, giving teams of one-two members just 60 hours to complete a sculpture using one block of ice weighing 7,800 pounds (Feb. 22-24); the Multi-Block Classic, joining artists into teams of two-four have 132 hours to sculpt 10 blocks of ice weighing a minimum of 46,000 pounds (Feb. 27- March 4); and the Amateur Open Exhibition, available for those who want to try their hand at ice sculpting without the competition or demanding time limits (Feb. 23 – March 18). A youth classic takes place March 15-18, inspiring a new generation of local ice artists.

Of course, any time we’re talking tons of snow and ice, the kids are going to want to play on it. The Kids Play Park began as just some ice slides in 1992 and now includes several acres of huge slides, challenging mazes, life-sized character sculptures, toys and a skating rink — all made entirely of ice. The Kids Park is open every day of the World Ice Art Championships from Feb. 22 – March 27.

Start planning your trip now to get the first glimpse of the artists at work. We recommend visiting the Ice Park at night, as colored lights illuminate the art against the darkness. The Ice Park will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.icealaska.com.

For reservations in Fairbanks, contact the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge.

A teal display of Aurora swirls above Eielson Air Force Base outside Fairbanks (Wikimedia Commons)

The Northern Lights

It’s a natural phenomenon on bucket lists across the world and also synonymous with the Alaskan experience.

While its splendor truly cannot be described with words, it does at least provide writers with one of the few opportunities they may ever get to drop the word “phantasmagoria” into their prose.

Whoever came up with phantasmagoria (defined as “a shifting series of phantasms, illusions, or deceptive appearances, as in a dream or as created by the imagination”) almost certainly had just made a visit up to the Last Frontier.

But what causes the Northern Lights, and what makes them so unique? Here is a definitive look at the fantastic occurrence that is Aurora Borealis.

The Northern Lights in a blazing red above Fairbanks (Wikimedia Commons)

The first question always asked about the Northern Lights (and one that stumped astronomers for centuries) is what causes this incredible display? It has a lot to do with magnets, photons, and solar winds, oh my!

Aurora borealis can light up the entire sky in the right conditions (Wikimedia Commons)

We’ll spare you of most of the scientific mumbo jumbo, but put simply, the Northern Lights occur when photons released from the earth’s atmosphere collide with solar winds in the upper stratosphere. Since solar winds are driven by magnetic forces, they are most concentrated in specific areas near the earth’s poles, which is why such displays almost always occur in extreme latitudes. The collision causes the photons to discharge energy in the form of the fantastic light that can cover all the colors of the rainbow.

Aurora above Antarctica, from space (NASA Image Database)

As a result of the magnetic correlation to Aurora, the displays only take place in a ring like band that forms around the North and South poles and is usually about 1550 miles in circumference. This band is constantly changing positions, but one of the best places in Alaska to view the Northern Lights is in and around Fairbanks.

Aurora sometimes tricks the uninitiated into thinking dawn has arrived early (NASA Image Database)

What’s in a name? Seventeenth century Astronomer Pierre Gassendi termed the phenomenon Aurora Borealis in 1621. Aurora was the goddess of dawn in ancient mythology, and you may remember her as having the “rosy red fingers” from Homer’s The Odyssey. Boreas was the god of wind, so the two together creates a great description of the Northern Lights: wind of dawn.

Solar flares can have a drastic effect upon Aurora displays (NASA Image Database)

While the energy produced by the sun is fairly regular, occasional solar flares can create massive geomagnetic storms. The largest solar flare in recorded history occurred in 1859 and was known as “The Carrington Event.” On September 2nd of that year, spectacular Aurora displays could be seen from places as far south as Hawaii. That sure expanded the definition of “northern” lights!

Aurora above the Delta River outside Fairbanks(Wikimedia Commons)

Fairbanks is fortunate to be positioned under a region in the sky where the Aurora frequently occurs. The Fairbanks Princess Lodge is one of the most ideal places to stay if you want to cross the Northern Lights off your “things to do before you die” list. Statistically speaking, if you stay three nights in Fairbanks in autumn through spring, you have about an 80% chance of catching a glimpse of this breathtaking (say it with me) phantasmagoria.

This year, the Fairbanks Curling Club will host the 2011 Junior Nationals, a competition for youth teams. If you’ve never heard of curling or know nothing about it, you aren’t alone. People usually associate curling as something you do to your hair or in the weight room. However, curling has been around for quite a while and has gained increasing popularity in the last decade or so. If the zany uniforms and calculated sweeping techniques didn’t hook you during the last winter Olympics, there is plenty of opportunity to become a fan—or a contender—during your next trip to Fairbanks.

Like most sports, curling is edge-of-your-seat excitement once you figure out the rules, whether you’re on the sidelines or on the ice. The best way to explain curling is like “shuffle board on ice.” The foundation of the game is two teams of four players each sending stones over an ice rink toward a target circle in an attempt to place as many stones as close to the center of the concentric rings on the opposite side of the ice as possible. Clear as day? This photo might help:

The game focuses on strategy, accuracy and teamwork instead of force and strength. Each player throws two stones an “end” (similar to an inning in baseball) while members of his/her team furiously sweep the surface of the ice in the path of the 42-pound granite stone to control its speed and direction. Teams can also knock  their opponents stone out of contention.

Any curling fan will tell you, once you know the rules you’ll be hooked. It isn’t a contact sport but it’s plenty competitive. This is your chance to enjoy the live atmosphere while watching teams grunt, holler and yell their ‘rock into the house’ to win the title of Junior National Champion.

The 2011 Junior Nationals kick off Jan. 29 in Fairbanks. For more information go to: http://www.2011juniornationals.com/

Or if you can’t make it for the championships and want to try your hand against the local competition, drop by the Fairbanks Curling Club next time you’re in town. www.curlfairbanks.org.

Known for excellence in canine care and fostering the traditions of dog sled racing, the Yukon Quest was named to commemorate the Yukon River, and follows the historic Gold Rush and Mail Delivery dog sled routes from the turn of the 20^th Century. While the Iditarod is the more well-known dog sled race in Alaska, the Yukon Quest is often referred to as the more challenging race. On the trail of the Yukon Quest, mushers only have ten checkpoints to the Iditarod’s 28 so they spend a lot more time in no-man’s land, out in the cold with their dogs and facing distances of more than 200 miles between checkpoints.

This year, half of the registered mushers are running the 1,000-mile race for the first time, but they have their work cut out for them, as a rookie rarely wins this race; it’s a course that favors the veteran. So keep your eye out for 2009 champion Sebastian Schnuelle and Hans Gatt, the 2010 champion, who crossed the Whitehorse finish line in record time of nine days and 59 minutes.

To be more than just a spectator, sign up to volunteer at: http://www.yukonquest.com/site/signup-to-volunteer.

If you are in Fairbanks early, help support the annual race at the Crab Feed Fundraiser that will take place on Sunday, Jan. 16, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pioneer Park. Tickets are available in advance at the Yukon Quest Store or by calling 907-452-7954.

Or come to Fairbanks in time for the first ever Yukon Quest “Purse Party” on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m. at the Dog Mushers Hall to help raise money to contribute to the race purse. Drinks will be provided by the Alaskan Brewing Co. Entrance is $20 and includes a limited edition 2011 Yukon Quest/Alaskan Brewing Co. glass. All proceeds will go directly to the purse.

The Yukon Quest race starts on schedule rain or shine from Whitehorse on Feb. 5, and lasts anywhere from 10 to 16 days until the final dog team arrives at the finish line. Teams are expected to arrive at the finish line between Monday, Feb. 14 and Sat Feb. 19 at the finish line located on the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks. Be sure and stick around for the Finish and Awards Banquet on Friday, Feb. 18 (tickets cost $60 and include dinner, entertainment, and awards ceremony).

Special winter rates are available online for the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge or by calling (800) 426-0500. For further details about the Yukon Quest go to http://www.yukonquest.com/

It has been quite a year, and this budding city is bringing in the New Year with a bang. Everyone is invited to the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus on New Year’s Eve for the annual Sparktacular Celebration. Get there a little early to find a spot to watch fireworks launched from UAF’s West Ridge, Friday, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m.  The University of Alaska Museum of the North welcomes all the firework spectators to come in before, during and after the show to enjoy free hot cocoa and cookies. The museum galleries will be open to the public at no charge from 7-9 p.m.

If you can’t make the first round of fireworks, then head to the Ken Kunkel Community Center next to Ivory Jacks in Goldstream Valley. The Goldstream Valley Lions Club is sponsoring the 10 p.m. fireworks show. Starting at 8pm there will be a bonfire and other fun activities.

Video: Goldstream Valley puts on a great fireworks display

Make sure you bundle up and wear layers when heading out to watch the fireworks. This time of year, Fairbanks’ average temperature is 4 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average low of 15 below zero.

If you enjoyed making buttons last year with your kids at the Noel Wien Library, don’t miss this year’s, “Got Trucks?”  Children ages three and up can bring their favorite Big Rig (or other transportation item) for a program “geared” to your fabulous big wheeled machines.  No registration is required, but the event is a day earlier than last year, Thursday, Dec. 30, at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of the Noel Wien Library.

For the 21-and-over crowd, there are plenty of bars hosting their own New Year’s Eve celebrations. As always, plan to have a designated driver or take a cab home. Keep Fairbanks safe and don’t drink and drive.

For those who feel like staying in this year, catch “Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin Eve” on Dec. 31 starting at 10 p.m. ET on ABC with American Idol host Ryan Seacrest from New York City’s Times Square.

Happy New Year!

Fairbanks Princess Christmas Tree

If you’re in Fairbanks, stop by to warm yourself up and enjoy some of our holiday spirit.

If your Alaskan vacation includes a trip to the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, make sure to plan a trip to Denali National Park.  Home to the tallest mountain on the continent – the majestic Mt. McKinley – Denali National park emerges from under the snow every spring to display some of the most breathtaking scenery you can find in the world.

From Fairbanks you can easily book a ticket on a Princess rail tour down to Denali, or if you’d rather do things on your own time, the drive down George Parks Highway is simple and straightforward.

Here are some amazing vistas you can expect to see on your trip to one of America’s proudest National Parks:

8:00 AM- Fairbanks

The First Family of Fairbanks statue inspires travelers to explore Alaska’s wilderness (source: Joyce Longfellow)

8:30 AM- Tanana Valley

Less than an hour outside Fairbanks is the lush Tanana Valley State Forest, which surrounds George Parks Highway on both sides (Source: Justus Havelaar)

9:00 AM- Nenana, AK

The highway crosses the Tanana River near the tiny town of Nenana, home to the Nenana Ice Classic. Every year a state-wide contest is held to see who can guess the moment the ice breaks for the spring. The winner gets thousands; in 2010, the grand prize was $279,030. (Wikimedia Commons)

9:30- First Glimpse of Mt. McKinley

A picture only conveys a fraction of the true majesty of Mt. McKinley, seen here from George Parks Highway (Wikimedia Commons)

9:45- Healy, AK

Greetings from Healy, the last town before Denali. Healy was also the last town Chris McCandless passed through before his ill-fated trek through the wilderness, as profiled in the book Into the Wild.

10:15 AM- Denali Visitor Center

Just a 2 hour drive from Fairbanks, Denali Visitor Center is the gateway to Denali National Park. (Source: Ron Niebrugge)

Rest of the Day:

Now that you’ve made it to Denali, there are countless things to see and do. Find the best view of Mt. McKinley from countless vantage points.  Go on an exhilarating hike through Alaska’s wilderness.  Canoe on Wonder Lake in the shadow of the tallest mountain on the continent.  Or drive to the park’s furthest reaches on the Denali Highway.  As these images attest, you can never have a bad day in Denali National Park.

Denali National Park offers a wide array of gorgeous natural colors (Wikimedia Commons)

Be warned, after canoeing Wonder Lake you may never think any other canoe trip is worth taking. (Denali National Park Website)

While its summit is lower in elevation than Mt. Everest’s, Mt. McKinley’s peak raises 18,000 feet from its base, 6,000 feet more than Mt. Everest. (Wikimedia Commons)

6:00 PM- Denali Princess Lodge

The Denali Princess Lodge awaits just outside the park, so you can unwind with world-class accommodations after a fruitful day exploring the foremost of Alaska’s natural splendor.